§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria are applied in determining whether a Bill is suitable for consideration in Grand Committee. [HL701]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Richard)The question whether a particular Bill is suitable for consideration in Grand Committee is one for agreement through the usual channels. The use of the procedure has been endorsed by the Procedure Committee on several occasions, most recently in its First Report, Session 1996–97 (H.L. Paper 20), which was approved by the House on 21 January 1997. On that occasion, the Chairman of Committees said that "the prime purpose of the Procedure Committee in suggesting these reforms…was to save time in the Chamber. That remains the basic aim." (H.L. Deb., Col. 558).